US and Russia hold significant talks in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine conflict

U.S. and Russian officials held their first significant talks since the Ukraine conflict began nearly three years ago. The nearly four-hour meeting in Saudi Arabia focused on restoring diplomatic relations and exploring peace negotiations for Ukraine. Both sides agreed to form working groups to discuss ending the conflict and restoring embassy staffing. They emphasized the need for diplomatic engagement, although Ukraine and European nations were not included in the talks. The discussions also touched on potential U.S.-Russian cooperation in energy projects. U.S. officials indicated that concessions may be necessary to reach a peace agreement, but no specific terms were discussed.